3rd Gen Tech: Black out Taillights
 

I’ve wanted a set of dark taillights for my 2007 for a while. The cost has been prohibitive, (At about $300.00, and then you still have to modify the wiring of the truck to run them.)
I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to modify the existing taillights, and it finally hit me today. (It was either that, or boredom.)

I rationalized if it doesn’t work out, I’ll either buy another set of stock ones, or suck it up and get the $300.00 ones.

This is pretty much a step by step of what I did on my Saturday afternoon.

Before pic:

Nothing wrong with the stock units really, unless you are looking for something a little more unique.

http://i30.tinypic.com/2njk8zd.jpg

First step is to remove the taillights (2 Torx 25 screws inside the tailgate well).

http://i28.tinypic.com/2e6cvip.jpg

The pins that hold the light on the outside edge are a little stubborn to release, so tug on the light with determination.

http://i26.tinypic.com/2q869s8.jpg

Remove the 2 connectors, one has a sliding red lock and then a locking tab, the other just has 2 locking tabs. A small flat blade screw driver may help.
NOTE: After reinstallation found it was MUCH easier to just 1/4 turn CCW the bulb holders, so just do that.

I used the Krylon plastic paint in Gloss black, and also some clear coat.
Since I’ve never done this before, I decided to try it out on a taillight I wasn’t using first to gain some experience with the materials and procedures.

http://i28.tinypic.com/29qjz0l.jpg

Here’s a few before pics. The first is after a light scuffing with a Scotchbrite pad.

http://i30.tinypic.com/22lt8l.jpg

A pic with light passing thru it.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2gy7x1f.jpg

After just one coat of paint.

http://i32.tinypic.com/1547fy1.jpg

Light passing thru it after painting for comparison.


http://i25.tinypic.com/6nt65h.jpg


And one of a flashlight bulb passing light thru it.

http://i29.tinypic.com/1zfl7vq.jpg

After waiting for the paint to completely dry, 2 coats of clear.

http://i27.tinypic.com/2m4x4d5.jpg

Continued
 

Now, moving on to the truck lights.
First tape off the reverse light. Personally, I like bright reverse lights. Skip this step if you don’t.

http://i30.tinypic.com/bg5zxy.jpg

Trim tape to match reverse light. You can actually see where to trim through the masking tape.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2ylpesi.jpg

It's important to mask off first to keep from scuffing the reverse light areas. Notice in the pic above, the right light is lightly scuffed and cleaned. Repeat for the other side.

http://i30.tinypic.com/2m43r5h.jpg


The important things to remember is to clean thoroughly after scuffing, and not to touch the surface you are painting with your fingers.

The plan is to apply 2 coats to the outer areas of the light, and only 1 coat where it has to shine through. Make sure the lights are completely DRY before handling. I waited an hour, although the directions said 15 minutes.

After painting, I’m thinking I might have gotten carried away with the application of paint


http://i28.tinypic.com/4nra.jpg


A quick test on the truck at this point will save work! It’s easier to remove a little bit of the paint now, and repaint if you think you got it on too thick, than AFTER you clear coat it twice.
Here’s how they turned out:

Tail Lights:

http://i28.tinypic.com/aaehaf.jpg


Brake Lights:

http://i26.tinypic.com/wtsqoj.jpg

I LOVE them! They actually look brighter in "Real life" than they do in the pic.

On to the Clear coats! Let them dry completely between coats. With the product I’m using, they say 15 minutes.




Now that the second coat has dried, it’s time to peel the tape, and install on the truck.

Taillights on:

http://i27.tinypic.com/v63ziq.jpg

From the side

http://i27.tinypic.com/28gxtec.jpg

Daytime pic

http://i27.tinypic.com/142ey5y.jpg

http://i28.tinypic.com/29c99ba.jpg

Any questions or comments, feel free to post up!

No interest in this one, huh? lol

:rocking::rocking:

I like!! :U:

Thanks for the props, guys!:c:

So far, absolutely NO problems with the local police or highway patrol.:yeah:

You all should have a better idea than I how the local authorities will treat this mod in your area.

looks great..... i want to get some better looking than stock on my 96 Dodge.....


off topic here:OT:

back in the day when i was heavy into the lowrider scene we had a local rookie cop that had a hard on for anything modified..... we had a club member that had those blackout covers on his tail lights and he harassed him every chance he got. the dude eventually got a ticket so the night before he had to go to court he took and cut the word STOP going from top to bottom like this
S
T
O
P

out of the blackouts and re-installed them. took it to court and the judge laughed and threw it out..... he then drove with them like that till he moved away a couple years later..... prolly still using them......

looking good man!!!!! if anyone needs some done, i can do them!

heres some on my durango:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...3_122_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...3_121_full.jpg

Those look great! :U:

I like it Bill.....maybe I can con you into helping me do this if I ever pass through Phoenix. Looks sharp!

Sweet! I like em!




Now to make a set of smoke tinted head lights :lol88:

Absolutely, Dustin! We'll do watever mods you want that we have time for! :U:

I LIKE IT!! what is the brand of paint you used???

sweet deal im going to do that to all my lights

Bill you're a knucklehead, just kidding kinda, I like the look, how would that look on an 06? Ind is that a farmboy's exhaust Bill?

:ouch: Your words. They hurt. :cry:

Ty -->:ph:<--Bill

You are just Jealous, Ty! My truck is Rockin! :da2:

As far as how they would look on a 2006, it would depend on the truck and the look you are going for. If you are blacking out the truck (No Chrome) they would look good.

The exhaust can be purchased ON THIS FORUM from lukesdiesel at Diesel Dawgs Performance, one of the sponsors here! :U:

I'm stickin to my straight pipe w/ 7" tip for now, and mine is a little to white with to much chrome to go for the blacked out look and i don't have the funds to go all black now that i'm pretty much chrome haha, and as soon as I get pics you'll see my truck isn't exactly not rockin either :c:

Bill, i just saw this write up. Great work!
i have question tho that i didnt see. What Grit sandpaper did you use?
I would like to see the headlights done as well if possible.
I need your write up so i can pursue this.:up2:
and no problem with the cops on this?:Race:
Nick

No sandpaper, Nick!! lol

Use a Scotchbrite pad (You know, the Green scrubbing pads? Well, I guess some of them are maroon/brown or whatever.)

I plan on doing the head lights, just takin my time with that one...

Absolutely no problems with the cops in my area so far... (Arizona)
Been done almost a year now...

i did my 2001 tail lights...... i likem...... that wAS a good write up.... thanks....

Thanks, man! Glad you liked it! :U:

:c:

Look foward to seeing it bill! great job and thank you!

Anyone else into the "Black Out" look on here? :pca1:

Been reading your post today man you do GREAT work! and make it easy to learn with all the details you include :c: Thanks for the hard work and Keep it up!

I really love that blacked out look. On my friends 06 dodge he baught LED Blacked out Tail lights(145.00), 3rd brake light(45.00) and Cab Running lights(90.00) all in black... He told me i could use his Stock lights to paint Incase I decided I didnt like the homemade style as much as his, So i wouldnt ruin mine.

The ones he have where off of a 06 and it didnt have the round grooves where the actual light brightens. They are the smooth styled lights. How would I go about doing 2 coats of black on them. if im only putting 1 coat on the area that lights up?

I plan on doing all the lights in black then running Black Rhino bed liner along the lower body line groove from my fender flares on the front all the way threw to the rear bumper. On my 07 Mega Cab 3500 to give it two tone effect. But be able to avoid Rock chips since I live on a farm.

First, Thanks for the compliments! The only compensation I get for the write-ups I do are the kind words and appreciation of the people that use the information. :c:

On the lights, I would just do 2 really light coats over the whole light. Let them dry and test them on the truck to be sure they pass light. If you are satisfied with the results, apply the clear coat over them, and let them dry completely before re- installing them. The clear coat will actually saturate the paint a little, making them less dark.

One word of caution for you because your truck is an 2007, the connectors on the taillights will be different. (I'm pretty sure of this) I guess just check to make sure that the bulb assemblies will swap over to them... Otherwise, you may be modifying the harness to use them.

Good luck, and be sure to post pics here when you are done!! :U:

Heres another - EXCELLENT stuff Bill. You are the only person I have ever ran across that takes the time to document projects like his and do is SO well. My hats off to you :c: :c:

i just finished blacken out all my lights,the 1 piece headlights looked sick with my new 6000k hid kit untill SOMEBODY hit the front driver side so i had to put the old clear 1 pc back in for now.ill post some pics asap.:U:

WOW. Way cool! Thanks man!! (Hey Everybody, one of the boss' just thanked me!!) :choochoo:

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Right on.:U:

Don't know how I missed this one great write up wildcat :U:
I love the blacked out look, because mine is a 06 and has the smooth taillights I used some window tint and it turned out well.

Hey Rob, thanks for the props!:U:

I thought about using a product like Nightshades, but I didn't like how it looked... To me it looks like kind of a Brown tint... I wanted something Black, that's why I went the direction I did.

Looks good. Seen alot of guys do it with the spary can window tint before never with actual spray paint. Looks good!

Thanks for the props, Bobby!! :c:

I used VHT night shades...put enough on and its black!..........And its transparrent vs. paint.

i just did mine lol my bro is a cop in prescott valley so i told him to look it up if we could get a ticket from it he said he will look in his "book of laws" lol but if the light comes out fine and see all the signals should be fine

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did my tail and head lights

i used niteshades too, but I didn't spray where the light actually shines thru.
here is a pic:

Attachment 51876

I still need to clear them.
a 'lil test, what else in the pic is "modded"?

o and or future reference dont do your head lights with the paint lol have to sand mine down to dark but the tail lights are sweet

they look great there bother

check out this guy... I wonder how many people buy stuff like this?

Custom Tail Lights for 02-06 Dodge Truck


Custom Tail Lights for 02-06 Dodge Truck

[QUOTE=TC's MegaCab;385955]check out this guy... I wonder how many people buy stuff like this?

Custom Tail Lights for 02-06 Dodge Truck


:humm:

I'm sure there's quite a few people who aren't really into the DIY thing, or that don't have the resources, skills or time that would be willing to drop some coin on them.

But that's not me.

fyi for ya guys.. i did the same on my 2nd gen.. followed yer insturctions and got a fix it ticket cause they work to dark... long story short 120 bucks later.. i have new stock tail lights :argh: